Calvary Baptist Church met on March 14, 1926, with 34 adults and 25 children, and organized a temporary Sunday School. They met for two more Sundays and on Wednesday night, March 31, 1926, they organized the Calvary Baptist Church of Sedalia. There were 51 Charter members. The Rev. Frederick D. Stone was the first pastor of the church.
The first meeting place was the Knights of Pythias Hall. Later the church worshipped at the Pettis County Court House and then moved to M.K. & T. Hall. From July 2, 1927, to August 9, 1953, the church met at Broadway and Moniteau Streets, which is the present location of the Central Bank. The church met temporarily in the Horace Mann School Gymnasium from August 16 to December 13, 1953. The church then moved into the present auditorium at 16th and Quincy Streets. The dedication services of the new church building was held December 20, 1953.
In 1957 the church erected an education building at the rear of the auditorium. The dedication service for the building was July 21. The third major building program of the church began with the selling of $125,000 in church bonds completed in four days, the week of April 18, 1971. The GroundBreaking Ceremony was held on the church lawn May 16, 1971, following the morning service. The first work done on the building was begun the first day of Vacation Bible School, June 7, 1971. The work on the new educational building was completed in the Spring of 1972. The new facilities were used for the first time on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1972. In addition to the construction of the new educational building, the church auditorium and old educational building were renovated and redecorated.
From 1964-1995 Rev. F. Charles Hendrickson served as pastor. During this time Calvary was blessed to have many go into full time service for the Lord. Sixteen men were ordained to preach, lead music or became missionaries.
After Rev. Charles Hendrickson retired in 1995 Calvary was blessed to have several interim pastors until Rev. Jim Hammock was called to Calvary in 1996.
Under Rev. Hammock’s leadership Calvary began to grow and the church office was updated with computer systems and office equipment. After a tragic automobile accident in December of 2000, Calvary was once again without a pastor but was blessed with Rev. John Tygart and Rev. Mike Cooper to stand in the gap until Calvary called her next pastor.
During the Spring of 2004 the church voted to purchase a church bus and added a new garage. Calvary’s trustees worked very hard remodeling brand new restroom facilities.
Many trials and victories have transpired over the years at Calvary Baptist Church. In 2007 under the leadership of Rev. Ted E. Francis the Calvary church family were once again led to carry out the Great Commission of our Lord to go and make disciples and together with joy, face the challenges that lie before us. The church saw many changes in 2014. The auditorium was completely renovated and redecorated, as were several other rooms in the church. The renovation was completed in September of 2014. Bro. Ted Francis announced his retirement in October effective December 31, 2014.
Dr. Daryl Staggs, D.O.M. for Harmony Baptist Association served as interim pastor for Calvary.
On May 3, 2015 Calvary Baptist Church called Dr. Donald Satterwhite to serve as pastor. Pastor Don began his ministry at Calvary June 10, 2015. In August of 2018 Jonathan Wallenbeck was called as Associate Pastor of Youth & Families. Pastor Don, Pastor Jonathan, and Michael Sproles as Music Director made up the team that led the good people of Calvary Baptist Church.
In March of 2021, Michael Sproles stepped away as Music Director to become the fourth member of the Abundant Quartet. His presences in leading the choir, singing, and leading the congregation will be greatly missed. However, his following God’s call on his life is what we all desire and respect. We wish him well in his new endeavor, and that God would make his and the Abundant Quartet’s ministry useful for the Kingdom of God.
In June of 2022, Dr Satterwhite announced that he would be retiring at the end of the year. It was with heavy hearts that Calvary would say good bye, and at the same time begin the process of looking for the next man God would call to led His Church into the future.
Over the next several months, the search committee met, and it was decided to extend the call to Calvary’s Associate Pastor Jonathan Wallenbeck. He was vetted, tested, and questioned by the committee and congregation; following a vote, he was called in October of 2022 as Calvary’s next pastor, to begin January 1, 2023.
We are excited about what God is doing at Calvary as we “Love God, Love People and Change the World”. We want to encourage you to get into God’s Word, spend time with Him, and build a intimate personal relationship with Him. While you can do this on your own, and you should; the Word tells us to stir up one another to love and good works, by not neglecting to gather together; but encourage one another as we see the Day approaching (Heb 10:24-25)